Turbine structure



March 17, 1953 o zw -r 2,631,815

TURBINE STRUCTURE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1948 uvmvron.

HANS T. HOLZWARTH BYW WflM ATTORNEYS" March 1953 H. T. HOLZWARTH ,6

TURBINE STRUCTURE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1948 a IE5; l=== H .6 m M TA R mm m L T m0 Wfl/o A TI m.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 TURBINE STRUCTURE Hans T. l-Iolzwarthlwestfield, N. J assignor to The M. W. Kellogg Company, Jersey City, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application September 22, 194$,Serial No. 50,531

This invention relates generally to turbines and more particularly to an inlet ring and nozzle structure for elastic fluid turbines.

It is conventional in the design of prior art turbines of the type utilizing individual jets or nozzles to form the inlet ring which conducts the motive fluid to the turbine nozzles or jets as an integral part of the turbine case or housing. and to fasten the individual nozzles or jets to the inlet ring thus formed. In this form of construction the necessary size of the inlet ring, and the space required to fasten the nozzles to the inlet ring, determine the dimensions of the turbine housing. This is especially true in the case of housings for high speed turbines having small diameter rotors. In addition to this, the inlet ring is subjected to higher internal pressures and higher temperatures thanthe' interiorof the turbine housing. This further complicates the design of the turbine housing inasmuch as temperature and pressure gradients have to be considered in determining the strength and rigidity of the housing.

The present invention provides an inlet ring for an elastic fluid turbine that is completely separate and independent from the' turbine housing and thus makes possible the design and construction of smaller and more compact turbine housings. It provides nozzles for conducting elastic fluid from said inlet ringv to the interior of said housing adjacent the first stage of the turbine rotor, and also provides meansfor attaching said inlet ring and nozzles to said housing so that the higher temperature and pressure to which the inlet ring is subjected does not infiuence the design of the turbine housing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a turbine inlet ring and nozzle structure adapted to be carried by a turbine housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a turbine inlet ring with means for mounting said ring on a turbine housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a turbine inlet ring and nozzle therefore than can be accurately and economically manufactured, and assembled on a turbine housmg.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a turbine inlet ring, and nozzles therefore, adapted to be manufactured independently of the turbine housing and subsequently mounted thereon wherein the high temperature and high pressure to which said inlet ring is subjected does not influence the size or strength characteristics of the turbine housing.

gether.

-1 Claim. (01. 253-65) Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and Will in part appear hereinafter.'

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed dis closure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claim.

For a fuller understanding of the nature andv objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed "description taken in.

connection with the accompanying drawings ,relationship of said nozzles to the turbine rotor.

The inlet ring of the present invention comprises an annular ring it made up of four arcuate sections [2, l4, l5 and I8, each comprising substantially of annular inlet ring Ill, welded to- Two inlet nozzles 26 and 22 are carried byarcuate segments l4 and I8 respectively of arcuate ring- I0 by means of protuberances 24 and 26 forming'a part oi -their respective segments l4 and I8 respectively. Arcuate section I6 is provided with an inlet duct I! through which annular ring ill is supplied with the desired turbine motive fluid.

Nozzles 26 and 22 can be of any suitable design, the nozzles disclosed are a conventional expanding type well known in the art. However, it will be understood that any desired type of nozzle can be employed. Furthermore, it will be understood that any desired number of nozzles can be carried by ring [0.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic axial section of a small high speed velocity compounded turbine having the annular inlet ring and nozzles of the present invention attached thereto. The turbine comprises a shaft 28, carrying a rotor 30, rotatably carried by casing 32 which comprises an exhaust portion 34 and an inlet portion 36. Inlet portion 36 is provided with a pair of openings 38 (Fig. 3) through which nozzles 20 and 22 extend into the interior of casing 32 and adjacent to the first stage of rotor 30.

Each protuberance 24 and 26 is provided with a circular cover plate 48 and 42 respectively, eccentrically mounted thereon. Each cover plate 48 and 42 is substantially the same diameter as openings 38, and they are carried by their respective protuberances 2 4 and 28 eccentrically thereof so that they are spaced apart substantially the same distance as openings 38. Each cover plate 48 and 42 is provided with a flange, 44 and 49 respectively, adapted to be welded or otherwise attached to the rim of openings 38. Flanges 44 and 46 may be substantially cylindrical or they may be ribbed or grooved to allow for differential expansion between cover plates 40 and 42 and casing inlet portion 38. A pair of triangular ribs or reinforcing fins 48, having one of their bases attached to and forming a part of protuberances 24 and 26 and their other base attached to and forming a part of cover plates 48 and 42, extend substantially across each cover plate.

It is preferred that each of the arcuate sections I2, I4, l5 and i8 be made by means of investment casting, inasmuch as it is possible, by this method, to make sections I4 and I8 with protuberances 24 and 28, cover plates 4!] and 42, fins 48, and nozzles 28 and 22 integral therewith. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all of the above described elements can be fabricated in any desired manner and welded together or otherwise assembled. Arcuate sections I2, I4, I8 and I8 are preferably welded together to form annular inlet ring I8 before said ring I0 is assembled on turbine inlet casing portion 36. However, when inlet ring I0 is to be mounted in this manner, openings 38 in inlet casing portion 36 must be large enough so that nozzles 20 and 22 can be inserted through the said openings 38 simultaneously. If it is desired, or necessary, to have openings 38 relatively small, nozzles 28 and 22, and their respective arcuate sections I4 and I8, can be installed on inlet casing portion 36 separately and welded in place thereon, and arcuate sections I2 and I6 can be welded to sections I4 and I8 thereafter.

It will thus be seen that the inlet ring and nozzles of the present invention provides a convenient means for introducing elastic fluid to the interior of a turbine casing, and at the same time imposes few if any limitations on the dimension of said turbine casing, thus making possible a compact highly efficient turbine casing. Furthermore, the inlet ring and nozzles of the present invention permits the interchange of a turbine from one motive fluid to another by merely replacing one annular inlet ring and its associated nozzles with another similar ring carrying a different type nozzle adapted to the different elastic fluid.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

The combination, with an elastic fluid turbine having a casing with openings therein for the admission of motive fluid, of a detachable, hollow ring, means for supplying turbine motive fiuid to said ring, outlet means for said ring comprising a plurality of protuberances, each supporting a cover plate and a nozzle, said cover plates serving as closures for said openings in said casing and being used as the means for fixedly mounting said ring to the exterior of said turbine casing and for locating said nozzles in operative position for the introduction of motive fluid into the interior of said turbine casing, said cover plates being disposed between said ring and said nozzles and being provided with means to permit diferential expansion between said ring and said nozzles and said turbine casing when attached thereto.

HANS T. HOLZWARTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 584,620 Battey June 15, 1897 731,570 Henry June 23, 1903 916,968 Baldwin Apr. 6, 1909 917,341 Moore Apr. 6, 1909 1,286,204 Baumann Dec. 3, 1918 1,318,035 Wait Oct. 7, 1919 2,391,786 Kenney Dec, 25, 1945 2,412,365 Sollinger Dec. 10, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 136,738 Switzerland Nov. 30, 1929 

